KARACHI: Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah revealed on Wednesday that K-Electric (KE) has overcharged the Sindh government by more than Rs20 billion for electricity supply to its departments over the past decade.
In a meeting with energy reporters, Minister Shah disclosed that the provincial government will soon settle Rs9 billion in outstanding dues with KE. An audit conducted this year uncovered over Rs2 billion in overbilling by the power utility, and reconciliation efforts have saved Rs2-3 billion over the past four to five years.
Minister Shah accused K-Electric of inflating the provincial government’s power bills by including its line losses. He emphasized that account reconciliation has clarified the actual outstanding amount owed. While smart meters installed by HESCO and SEPCO provide real-time data, K-Electric has yet to implement such meters, affecting transparency in power supply and consumption data.
“If government departments are facing overbilling, one can imagine the impact on common consumers,” remarked Shah. He added that committees have been established to protect consumers from overbilling and heavy charges.
Last week, the Sindh government announced that K-Electric agreed to restore electricity to consumers using up to 200 units by waiving old dues and charging based on new bills. K-Electric confirmed the formation of a joint committee with the Sindh government to address load-shedding and other issues in Karachi. The committee aims to address public grievances, ensure timely bill payments, and develop strategies to reduce load-shedding and ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
K-Electric reiterated its commitment to cooperating with Karachi residents during the heatwave but stressed that uninterrupted power supply relies on timely bill payments. The Sindh energy minister assured the utility that the government would facilitate the payment of over Rs9 billion owed by the Sindh government.
Story by Tanveer Malik
